Wednesdays Win: Apple Countdown by Joan Holub

It's apple season! Drop a comment for a chance to win Joan Holub's picture book, Apple Countdown. Don't forget to check in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday and will announce all the winners for the month on September 30th. Don’t forget to check back. Good luck!
(Due to mailing costs, USA only.)

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

I Love You Stinky Face: Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore

I enjoyed this as a picture book and was excited to see it reissued now in board book format. It was a hugely successful title. I like that it reads as a conversation between mother and child. It's so realistic that I've wondered if the idea sprang from an actual talk Lisa McCourt had with her child.

Mama said, "I love you, my wonderful child."
But I had a question.

Mama, what if I were a big, scary ape? Would you still love me then?

"If you were a big, scary ape, I would make your birthday cake out of bananas, and I would tell you, "I love you, my big, scary ape."

But Mama, but Mama, what if I were a super smelly skunk,
and I smelled so bad that my name was stinky face?

At first glance this is a funny book, but below the surface, it's a reassurance to totz that they are loved no matter what. What could be better than that?

I Love You Stinkyface
Lisa McCourt, author
Cyd Moore, illustrator
Scholastic, 2009

~ review by Joan Holub, author

Poetry Friday: A Light in the Attic: Special Edition

In celebration of the release of A Light in the Attic: Special Edition, here's a YouTube entry narrated by Shel of "Backward Bill." Pick up the new release and enjoy those 12 new poems with your totz! What a treasure!

A Light in the Attic: Special Edition
by Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins Children's Books, September 22, 2009
www.shelsilverstein.com

Catch the full Poetry Friday roundup with Wild Rose Reader!

September Pick for the Older Sibling: Library Lion

My pick this month for the older sibling of your totz is Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. When a picture book grabs your heart, you have to share it!

So, one day a lion comes to the library. Despite Mr. McBee's concern, Miss Merriweather takes no action as no rules are being broken. Of course, the lion must be quiet in storytime.



The lion makes himself useful in the branch. Eventually Lion's emergency roar is misunderstood, and Mr. McBee casts him out. It's is he who must find lion and explain the new rule:

"No roaring allowed, unless you have a very good reason--say, if you're trying to help a friend who's been hurt, for example."

With extremely smart pacing and endearing characters, this work will quickly become a favorite of your family. This New York Times Bestseller will win your heart if it hasn't already.

Library Lion
by Michelle Knudsen
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Candlewick Press, paperback 2009

More, more, more: Ned's New Home

What can a worm do when his home begins to rot? Ned's walls have grown mushy and apple juice rains. The problem forces the little green worm on an adventure to find a new home. Not an easy task. Pears are wobbly, watermelons are too large, and blueberries just roll about.

Of course, it's in the most dire circumstances that the hero finds his solution. In this case, Ned finds a new home and a new friend.

Kevin Tseng's text and art are sparse and fresh. Two images per spread maintain a rhythm from start to end, while visual distance varies in the watercolor paintings. Even the rounded font lends atmosphere to the tale.

Read Ned's New Home with your readertotz and experience one little worm's crisis and soaring solution.

Ned's New Home
by Kevin Tseng
Tricycle Press, 2009

Art for Baby: the very best for your totz

If there was a Kunhardt Board Book Award, Art for Baby would be short listed for certain. This is exactly what Joan and I are calling for when we ask for the best for our totz.

Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press, has collected twelve black and white images from eleven contemporary artists. Special thanks go out to the galleries who were so generous with their art that they allowed the pieces to be included in this work. Thanks also to the Outset Contemporary Art Fund and the NSPCC who helped in this collaboration.



What more beautiful images to expose your totz to than Paul Morrison's Cryptophyte or Takashi Murakami's Ohana? (both above) Black and white high contrast images aid newborns in object recognition. What a beautiful way to present art and life to the youngest readers. Other artists include Keith Haring, Julian Opie, and Damien Hirst.

A removable paper frieze for your nursery is also provided. Our thanks go out to Templar Books for raising the board book bar and presenting the very best to the market. This book is exquisite perfection.

Art for Baby
9.6 x 9.5 inches
Templar Books, Candlewick Press, September 8, 2009

Poetry Friday: Two Little Dicky Birds

Two little dicky birds sitting on a wall,
One named Peter, one named Paul.
Fly away Peter, fly away Paul,
Come back Peter, come back Paul!

Thanks to this UK nursery rhyme site for the image and reminder of one of my favorite rhymes when I was a tot! A little looking around revealed the name dicky bird is a child's term for any small bird. Now we know!

Today's Poetry Friday is up over at The Boy Reader.

Edward Unready for School: Rosemary Wells

How cute is this? Although it's not a board book, it's a nice size for totz at 7"x7", 24 pages. Part of a series of Edward books by Rosemary Wells, it deals with a fear. In this case, it's the fear of going to school for the first time. However, it doesn't have the traditional ending one might expect -- the main character realizing he is ready for school.

After a series incidents indicating that Edward really isn't ready for play school quite yet . . .

"Edward's teacher said, Not everyone is ready for the same things at the same time."
"We'll just take him home until he is ready," said Edward's mother and father.

This comes a few pages before the actual ending of the book, but I think the lines are immensely reassuring. A child who might feel like a failure for being "unready" for some feat may well be relieved.

And who can resist Rosemary Wells' adorable illustrations of Edward? His expressions of uncertainty at the prospect of school are realistic and touching.

I love this book!

Edward Unready for School
author-illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Dial Books, 1995

~ Joan Holub, author-illustrator

Poetry Friday: Dreams

Dreams

Friday night's dream, on Saturday told,
Is sure to come true, be it never so old.

I've never heard this before. You? And it of course brought Janet Wong and Julie Paschkis' book to mind. What a beauty it is! Be sure to find it for your totz! Happy Poetry Friday!

Catch the full roundup with Kate Coombs at Book Aunt.

Thank you, Karla Kuskin!

Our thanks to Karla Kuskin, children's author and illustrator who gave us so much. She died last Thursday at her home in Seattle, age 77.




From Traces

We will continue to treasure her beautiful voice and imagery.

Pop-Up Counting Animals: A DK Publishing Collaboration

This week's board book review is simply named Pop-Up Counting Animals. I wasn't convinced I'd be engaged, but I shouldn't have doubted. It's DK Publishing.

Using Dave King's special photography, a bit of flat graphics, and Fiona Gowen's paper engineering, this collaborative work pops! When the first kitten opens beside the number one, you just have to say ooooooooh. And when the five butterflies flap free of the book at the close, you say aaaaaaaaaah. In between, watch for fish, chicks, and parakeets. (Which color would you choose?)

Sit down with your totz and pop open this board book with amazement. Thanks, DK for bringing this back as a revised version of the 1995, Number Pops. Here's to keeping the best in print!

Pop-Up Counting
Photographs by Dave King
Engineered by Fiona Gowen
DK Publishing, 2009

Happy Anniversary, Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty!

Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty is celebrating their three year anniversary this month! Woot!

Z-Dad invited illustrators to springboard off of one of the children's illustrations and contribute to the party. Here's Gracie's version of "Smitten" at age 6:

And that's mine. Drop over to the site and enjoy their 400 drawings!

~Lorie Ann Grover

Poetry Friday: Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants, Video

I was just over at JD Lester's Facebook, and she had posted this sweet video of a mommy reading Monkeypants. So cute and perfect for Poetry Friday!

Let us know if you've posted a reading video with your baby. We'd love to share it!

Catch the roundup with Kyle at The Boy Reader.

For the Older Sibling: Song of Middle C

The art is what initially attracted me to this book. It's a pleasing blend of the contemporary and the retro. The palatte is subdued, the lines simple, and there's plenty of fun to be had here.

Now on to the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Told in first person, it's a fun, realistic, smart tale about a girl who's facing her first piano recital -- "Dance of the Wood Elves." Her mom says "Practice Makes Perfect." So she practices and teaches us a thing or two about preparation and piano skills as we await her big day. On recital day, she practices bowing in front of her mirror. She wears her lucky underwear (pink with music notes) for good measure. All the kids line up waiting for their turns to perform, but . . .

At the recital, I wait and wait and wait.
Did you know that piano recitals take a long,
long time? Especially when your song is the
very last song on the program.
The very, very last song.
But am I nervous?
Hoo boy, no!
Not one tiny bit.
That's because I'm cool as a cucumber.

Then, she's on the bench and things quickly go awry:

Fingers? Hello?
Wood elves, where are you?
Lucky underwear, don't fail me now!

I like her spunky way of thinking, which serves her well as things don't go as planned. Any child who has ever been faced with the pressure of performing in the spotlight--and haven't we all-- will relate to this cute book!

Song of Middle C
Alison McGhee, author
Scott Menchin, illustrator
picture book
Candlewick Press, 2009

~ Reviewed by Joan Holub, author

A Surprise for the Nutbrown Hares: Sam McBratney

I was surprised, just like the nutbrown hares. Because this book is fatter (about 3/4 inches thick) and has many more pages than most board books. However, it is truly a board book. It's small with sturdy pages. And Candlewick says its for ages 2-4.

The team of Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram is probably best known for the best-selling family classic, Guess How Much I Love You. This book follows a similar style. On a windy day, the Nutbrown Hares have been playing and chasing leaves, and now Big Nutbrown Hare has to rest. Imagine his surprise when he opens his eyes and sees . . . a box monster hopping toward him! Is he dreaming? Should he run away? And what will Big Nutbrown Hare’s response be when the box monster sheds his convincing disguise?

Totz will relate to the situation that unfolds and will enjoy reading this with mom and dad. Anita's website is fun and has art and cards for purchase.

A Surprise for the Nutbrown Hares
Sam McBratney, author
Anita Jeram, illustrator
Candlewick, 2009

~ review by Joan Holub, author

Poetry Friday: A Star

A Star

I have a little sister, they call her Peep, Peep;
She wades the waters deep, deep, deep;
She climbs the mountains high, high, high;
Poor little creature, she has but one eye.

My dad has one eye, and we don't think of him as "poor little creature." Hm. Too dated for our totz?

Catch the full roundup with Andromeda Jazmon at a wrung sponge.

Totz Video: Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish

Is this not the cutest ever?

If you recognize her as one of our totz, please don't divulge her name in the comments to protect her anonymity.

Thanks to her family for filming the moment and allowing me to share this. It just cheers my heart!

~Lorie Ann

readertotz CLASSIC: Bruce Degan, Jamberry

It's a classic post! Yay!

Give it up for Jamberry by Bruce Degen. How awesome to have this 1983 picture book in a board book format. It's a perfect fit.



Revisit this classic or discover it for the first time with your totz. The rhythm is so catching you'll find you are reciting it together throughout your day.

"One berry
Two berry
Pick me a blueberry
Hatberry
Shoeberry
In my canoeberry

The fantasy includes a boy and bear off to find and pick berries for jam. Everyone joins the joyful pursuit, from animals circling the bear like a maypole to a goose driving a train. All the action culminates in a jam jamboree!

Bruce uses an ink line and watercolor to capture the fun and excitement of the tale. Full spreads alternate with half spreads and one wordless explosion of blueberries.

Pick up this board book before you go pick those berries at the close of summer. Whether they be strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, jazzberries, starberries...

Jamberry
by Bruce Degen
HarperFestival, 1995

Poetry Friday: Blow, Wind, Blow!

Blow, Wind, Blow!

Blow, wind, blow! And go, mill, go!
That the miller may grind his corn;
That the baker may take it,
And into rolls make it,
And send us some hot in the morn.

Happy Poetry Friday, folks and totz! I'm writing from a bakery, so this seemed perfect!

Catch the full round up with Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

~Lorie Ann

Watch Me HOP! Rebecca Young

Watch Me HOP! has "8 Amazing Moving Pictures." These photos that seem to move are actually 60-frame lenticulars. Totz can actually watch a bunny or a grasshopper hop, and an elephant swing its trunk. The animals almost literally leap off the page!

I leap up high
and land with a plop!
I'm a FROG . . .
Watch me hop!

The black and solid color design is eye-catching. I think this photo technique is fascinating and totz I've shown it to have loved it. It's great to see boundaries being pushed like this to create a successful book. It's pretty sturdy and will likely stand up to most totz' handling.

Watch Me HOP!
Rebecca Young, author
Von Glitschka, illustrator
Pamela Notarantonio, designer
Scholastic, 2009

~ reviewed by Joan Holub, author